7 Qualities of an Effective Soul Winner

A desire to serve

Do you remember the day that you were saved and became a new creation in Jesus Christ? How exciting was that experience! After being baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:38) it’s very easy for us to want to share the gospel with everyone that we know. In fact, Jesus urged his disciples in the Great Commission to “go forth and make disciples of all nations” in Matthew 28:19. And that same charge is given to everyone who follows Christ today.

It is my hope that we all have a desire to serve Jesus and continue the mission of sharing the Word of God with others so that they too can be saved. It is wonderful to have a desire to minister, but to do so requires a lot of discipline to keep up a righteous lifestyle worthy of the calling that God has placed in our lives. 

So what can we do to make sure that we are an effective soul winner of the Apostolic faith?

Daily repentance 

Without repentance there could be no progress. Without acknowledgment of wrongdoings, honesty and transparency before our mighty God in Christ there will be no forgiveness of sins. The blood of Jesus will be applied with daily repentance. Your heart will become hardened without daily repentance. You will start to become isolated and think that you are better than everyone else and thus think that you do not need repentance. We can seek the forgiveness from God every daily because his mercies are new every morning.

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Practicality: Ask God in prayer to show you where you are wrong, ask him to reveal to you what you can not see, be genuine and have true remorse.

Have a prayer life

Prayer is the gateway to the heart and mind of Christ. Without constant communion with our creator it is impossible to navigate through the challenges of a day. How could you possibly say you have a relationship with your husband or wife if you never spoke to him/her throughout the course of one, 24 hour day? Prayer is not only speaking to God but it is listening to his voice. Spend time with the master. You will fight your battles, you will win your wars, you will climb your mountains, you will be victorious with constant communication and guidance as a result of daily prayer.

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Practicality: Aim to pray for a total of an hour a day. Pray at a stop sign, pray walking into work, don’t let your mind wonder, use the acronym P.R.A.Y. when seeking to speak with God.

Pray, Repent, Ask, Yield

Daily Bible reading

The only true North Compass that should be allowed to speak volumes to your life decisions is the word of God. Examining the Bible and what God is showing us in his word will be the fire in your cold winter. You will have TV shows and books and distractions to draw you away from the truths in the Bible. Daily Bible reading will be the anchor in your storm.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Practicality: Get a daily Bible reading plan.

Weekly fasting

Fasting is not only to seek God for direction and hear his voice clearly but it is also a weapon of our warfare. We do not fight against flesh and blood but we fight against the principalities and powers and fasting is a way to do that. We must die to self. We must be in complete control and not let our flesh rule our every move. Fasting gives us direct access to heaven. Not only to hear from God but fasting empowers us through the Holy Ghost to act on our faith resulting in miracles, signs and wonders!

“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)

Practicality: Fast on Monday or pick a day of the week to dedicate to the Lord. I prefer Monday because I am able to start the week out focused on God.

Consistent church attendance 

The most productive way to grow is to be consistent with church attendance. There are so many facets of our spiritual life that hang on the tree of consistency. When you’re around believers and like-minded individuals in church constantly throughout the week, your attitude will change because freedom is contagious. The old adage says, “you are who you hang out with” and it couldn’t be closer to the truth. We all must be consistent in weekly church attendance not only for our own good but also for the good of our brothers and sisters.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Practicality: Attend Sunday and midweek services, attend small group meetings and prayers meetings.

Tithes and offerings

Giving of the thing that you may deem the most vital to your existence, could possibly be the key to unlocking Gods favor and blessing in your life. It is said that the love of money is the root of all evil. When you give the thing that might be most needed in your life it allows God to release a waterfall of a blessing in your life. Giving your tithes and your offerings often times is not about your $100 that you’re giving for that week but it is more about the posture of your heart to give. Tithes and offerings allow the temple of God to be sustained, but it is also a funnel of blessing as a result to divine obedience to his word.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)

Practicality: Give 10% tithe and a 5% offering.

Pastoral accountability

Selfishness is so prevalent in our culture nowadays. The idea of having someone that is praying for you, loving on you and encouraging you with absolutely no desire to receive anything in return is astronomically foreign to most of us. My Pastor, Dane Butler, is the epitome of a book of acts shepherd at International Pentecostal Church. He is not out for your money. He is not out to try and get something from you. He is rooting for you. He sincerely wants to lead you to Heaven! We are often met with extreme challenges in life and sometimes with no ideas on where to turn. Having pastoral accountability and mentorship is an absolute necessity in modern-day Christian life. We need a pastor that we give Full VIP backstage access. Every thought, every challenge that we face we should allow him to speak truth in love to us so that we might be refined and encouraged. Run to reproof, do not run away from it.

“He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing], But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].” (Proverbs 10:17)

Practicality: If you attend IPC, ask to meet with Pastor Dane Butler or the pastor of your own church, and they can guide and lead you to Pastoral accountability.

Conclusion

When you are faithful and consistent with the above-mentioned lifestyle and have passion for the lost, God will put people in your path every day, all day long that need and desire him. God will match your passion for evangelism as a result of your apostolic, daily disciplines. Get ready for revival because you are a part of it. In Jesus Name!